Attempted armed robbery in Barry

UPDATE 14.04pm: Specialist Search Team police officers have found the gun which has been confirmed as a fake, replica gun.

South Wales Police is appealing for information in relation to an attempted armed robbery that occurred this morning in Barry at approximately 9.50am.

A male, entered the Newsagents on Coldbrook Road East, wearing a black tracksuit with a white scarf around his face and pointing a firearm at the female shopkeeper who was stood behind the counter.

The suspect made demands for cash and the shopkeeper bravely threw a newspaper at him, which resulted in him running from the scene empty handed and fleeing up a grassed lane leading to Victoria Park. Officers then stopped a male and arrested him for this offence. He is currently in custody.

Officers have not yet recovered the weapon; specialist search teams are searching the area.

The newsagents on Coldbrook Road East where the incident took place

Detective Inspector Terry Hopkins of Barry CID said,

“We would like to reassure the public that we have arrested a male for this offence and we are still trying to establish if this was a real firearm or not.

“We have not yet obtained the firearm and we would therefore like to warn the public if they see any object, which they suspect could be a dumped firearm, to not approach it but to call the police immediately on 999.

“We would also like to appeal for witnesses or anyone with information to contact us on 101 quoting ref: 1700194382 or contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.